GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence women's basketball team will host a pair of games this weekend as they look to climb the Frontier Conference standings.

The Argos (12-8, 3-5), who are receiving votes in the latest NAIA National Rankings, will host Montana Tech (11-9, 1-7) on Friday night and #21 Lewis-Clark State (13-5, 5-3) on Saturday. Both games will tip off at 5:30 p.m. in the McLaughlin Center.

The Argos are coming off a heartbreaking home loss to #17 Carroll on Saturday. Despite a few close losses the season to conference foes, the team remains in good spirits and is prepared to make a late season run.

"The girls know we're a really good team," head coach Bill Himmelberg said. "They know we have to make one or two more plays. They're been back in the gym working and keeping a positive attitude. We just have to get it done."

The Argos defeated the Orediggers earlier in the year, winning 74-71 in Butte on Jan. 16. Four Argos (Bailey Cartwright, Kenedy Cartwright, Emilee Maldonado and Jenna Randich) scored over 15 points to give the Argos the narrow victory.

The Orediggers have a three-headed attack in Mesa Williams (17.0 ppg), Mollie Peoples (11.2 ppg) and Kaylee Zard (10.4 ppg). When the two teams previously met, the Argos were able to hold Peoples to 6 points, but Williams and Zard combined for 41.

"They have a big three out there," Himmelberg said. "We have to control Williams, Peoples and Zard. We're going to need to take care of business and control them a little bit. Then we have to execute and rebound. We're going to have to make sure we control the boards."

The Argos will be ready for revenge on Saturday against the Warriors, after having lost 60-61 after game-winning three point play from Abby Farmer with 4.8 seconds left.

"We need to be a little better in transition with them," Himmelberg said. "I think they had 18 points in transition against us the first time. I didn't think we got back very well and they got some easy transition points."

The games this weekend mean a lot for the Argos if they want to climb up the Frontier Conference standings. The Argos are currently at 6^th place, behind five teams that are ranked in the National Poll. Montana Tech is the lone team in the conference that isn't either ranked or receiving votes in the National Poll.

"The biggest things is that we can only control ourselves," Himmelberg said. "We can't control what the other teams are going to do. We're making sure that we take care of the things that we can control. We can defend, we can rebound, we can block off, we can take care of the basketball. We're focused on controlling the things that we can control and do the best we can at all the outcome is going to be what we want it to be."

"It's nice to be at home, especially after having so many on the road," he said. "Every week we're playing someone ranked. We can easily jump in there. Hopefully we'll be able to get a couple wins this weekend. If we do we're going to be in really good shape."